RESOURCES:

Let the Walls Fall Down Fall Webinar Series
Vulnerable Youth: Identifying Predators and Protecting Children 

Thursday, February 3, 2022
8:00-9:00 PM Eastern/5:00-6:00 PM Pacific  
 

What if all children had an adult to protect and love them? It is estimated that there are more than 42 million child abuse survivors in the U.S. Learn how to protect the children and youth in your home and community. This presentation includes information on the roots of vulnerability, the mind and tactics of predators, the role of pornography and technology, and how to protect children and adolescents from becoming victims of exploitation. 

 

1. FACT: Victims can be trafficked by someone they know, such as a friend, family member, or romantic partner. Most traffickers prefer to methodically groom their victims than kidnap.
2. FACT: Trafficking does not require movement across borders. A person can be trafficked and exploited from their own home.
3. FACT: Reports from all 50 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico have been made to the National Human Trafficking Hotline. 
4. Who’s at risk? 
   • Children in low socioeconomic status households 
   • Foster children 
   • People living in an unsafe situation
   • Someone looking to get away from current living conditions
   • However, victims can come from any socioeconomic background, ethnicity, race, or gender
5. Technology Makes Kids Easily Accessible - 1 in 9 teens receive unwanted sexual solicitation online. 1 in 3 teens meet people in person who they met online first.
6. Visit the Resources page at www.thesamartianwomen.org.
7. What can you do? - Recognize & report. Police, CPS, Child Abuse Helpline, Human Trafficking Hotline.

 

Guest Presenter: Linda Blackiston RDH, BS
Passionate about changing lives through education, Linda Blackiston specializes in raising awareness about various forms of abuse and neglect. For nearly a decade, Linda served on the Board of Directors and as a volunteer for The Samaritan Women. Because of her direct involvement with survivors, Linda was invited to contribute to curriculum development on human trafficking for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service. She is currently on staff at The Samaritan Women serving as the Director of Community Engagement, providing education and resources for the church, community, and allied health professionals on human trafficking, vulnerable children, and trauma victims.
     In her previous professional capacity, for 17 years, she served as Mid-Atlantic Manager of Professional Education for Philips North America, developing curriculum and delivering training for dental professionals. Linda has presented professional development and public awareness talks on topics from pediatric oral health to emerging biofilm science. She volunteers with Mid-Atlantic PANDA (Prevent and Abuse Neglect Through Dental Awareness), updating the curriculum and providing courses on recognizing and reporting abuse and neglect cases.
     She was awarded The University of Maryland 2017 Linda DeVore Dental Hygiene Alumnus Award. Linda has worked with The American Academy of Pediatric Dentists on the development of an educational video, and she has media experience working in television with QVC. Linda holds a Bachelor of Science degree in dental hygiene from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry.